This will maintain the prices of domestic crude palm oil and fresh fruit bunches from the farmers' side. The government constantly (pays attention to) Indonesian farmers and expands job opportunitiesJakarta (ANTARA) - China agreed to import one million tons of crude palm oil and other agricultural products from Indonesia, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir stated.
"This will maintain the prices of domestic crude palm oil and fresh fruit bunches from the farmers' side. The government constantly (pays attention to) Indonesian farmers and expands job opportunities," Thohir noted in a statement here on Tuesday.
The minister remarked that Indonesia and China were strategic partners that had conducted mutually beneficial cooperation.
He opined that the government's decision to establish trade cooperation with China was a form of their commitment to encouraging agricultural productivity in addition to ensuring the farmers' welfare.
"With that collaboration, Indonesia can boost the prospects of farmers' products (being sold)," he stated.
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Moreover, he said that Indonesia could follow the example set by China that had optimally utilized its natural resources and the markets for the greater good of the country.
The minister believed that Indonesia, with abundant natural resources and a large market, must be able to clock similar accomplishments in a bid to promote economic growth as well as provide job opportunities for the citizens.
"As we know, all along, our resources and large market have yet to be used optimally for national economic growth. This is what we want to (change to) constantly optimize (its) utilization," he remarked.
Apart from trade in the agriculture sector, they also cooperated in the electric vehicles sector.
He stated that the commitments of collaboration with China were not limited to investment but also for technology transfer as well as high-speed rail development.
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"What is also important is that we also spoke about possible collaboration in the fishery sector. As it turns out, State-Owned Enterprises are currently making an integrated fishery ecosystem," he added.
In the fishery ecosystem, the state-owned companies collaborated with Cooperatives and Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises Ministry; Maritime and Fisheries Ministry; and also the National Traditional Fishermen (KNTI).
The minister expects the fishery ecosystem to be as successful as the agricultural ecosystem in the Makmur (Prosperous) Program.
"SOEs have begun three initiatives for the fishermen, such as funding fishermen through micro credits and investment in the fishery sector, supporting fishery facilities by improving gas fuel management, and enabling market access," he explained.
President Jokowi and some ministers had conducted a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of China Li Keqiang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Beijing, China, to discuss efforts to boost economic cooperation.
During the visit, President Jokowi's entourage comprised Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi; State Secretary Minister, Pratikno; State-Owned Enterprises Minister, Erick Thohir; Investment Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia; and Ambassador of Indonesia to Beijing, Djauhari Oratmangun.
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Translator: Sugiharto P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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